Ex-Labor leaders welcome PM's carbon tax

Former state Labor premiers and chief ministers have congratulated the federal government on passing its carbon tax legislation after a "crude and toxic" debate.

The past leaders, led by former NSW premier Bob Carr, released a congratulatory statement to Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday ahead of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) national conference this weekend.

The former leaders said the bill was a "vital first step" towards achieving the goal of ensuring global carbon pollution begins to decline rapidly within the next decade.

"This vital national reform stands in the great Labor tradition of bold change in the national interest," the statement said.

It was signed by Mr Carr, former Queensland premier Peter Beattie, former South Australian premier Mike Rann, former Victorian premier Steve Bracks, former West Australian premier Geoff Gallop, and former ACT and Northern Territory chief ministers Jon Stanhope and Clare Martin.

They said they regretted the "crude and toxic" nature of the recent Australian debate on the carbon tax.

"(We) believe there is work for the Labor movement to help rebuild consensus with government, civil society, workers and business on climate change."

Mr Carr said he and his colleagues had acted on climate change at a state level during a time when Australians had become anxious about climate change.

"In the absence of action from the federal government under the Howard prime ministership, we pressed state-level programs," Mr Carr said.

This included banning removal of native vegetation from native farmland, the expansion of wind and solar power, and the development of gas and renewables as alternatives to coal-fired power, he said.

"The passage of the legislation this month is a signal achievement of the Labor government," Mr Carr said.

"But the momentum has to be maintained, the gains have to be consolidated."